Don Imus, the recently fired CBS radio host, is viewed favorably by 24% of Americans and unfavorably by 51%. The latest Rasmussen Reports telephone survey found that Imus has lower ratings among women and older Americans.

Imus was fired after making an inappropriate sexist and racist comment about the Rutgers University women’s basketball team. The team has formally accepted Imus’s apology and “is in the process of forgiving him.” Nationally, 51% of American adults believe his apologies were sincere while 30% disagree. Sixty-one percent (61%) of men believe his apology was sincere along with 42% of women.

C. Vivian Stringer, the Rutgers coach, said “These comments are indicative of greater ills in our culture. It is not just Mr. Imus, and we hope that this will be and serve as a catalyst for change. Let us continue to work hard together to make this world a better place."

Americans are evenly divided as to whether or not radio hosts have a responsibility to avoid making offensive comments as part of their comedy. Forty-three percent (43%) say hosts do have such a responsibility while 41% do not. There is a huge difference of opinion between generations on this one. Most Americans over 50 believe there is a responsibility to avoid offensive comments. Most under 40 disagree.

Imus is currently viewed far less favorably than another celebrity who got in trouble for inappropriate statements—Mel Gibson. However, Imus’s ratings are better than some of Hollywood’s bad girls including Britney Spears and Paris Hilton.

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